Eglingham
Encyclopedia
Eglingham is a village in Northumberland
, England
, situated about 7 miles (11.3 km) north-west of Alnwick
and 10 miles (16.1 km) from Wooler
. It lies in the sheltered valley of the Eglingham Burn, a tributary of the River Aln
, about 100 metres (328.1 ft) above sea level, in a rural conservation area
set amongst rolling countryside, within 5 miles (8 km) of the Cheviot Hills
. The village is surrounded by mainly arable
farmland, moorland and woodland, including an arboretum
and some commercial forestry.
The village has about 60 dwellings and a population of about 100, most situated either side of the through-road, and including the local manorial property, Eglingham Hall
.
Eglingham is also a parish
, about nine miles (14 km) in length by four and a half in breadth, with an area of 23361 acres (94.5 km²). It comprises 2 villages: South Charlton and Eglingham; and 14 settlements - Bassington
, Beanley
, New and Old Bewick, Brandon, Branton, Crawley, Ditchburn, Harehope, Hedgley, East and West Lilburn, Shipley, Titlington - and several smaller places. The River Breamish, which rises in the Cheviot
s, runs through the parish. The geological composition of the parish includes rich gravelly loam
along the path of the river; clay
predominating in the centre of the parish, and unenclosed moorland in the south and east. Within the moor area is Kimmer Loch, covering 10 acres (4 ha), and reputed to abound in perch
and pike
.
The parish is largely agricultural, although gravel extraction continues to the west. Villages in the parish also serve as bases for commuters working in Alnwick and Newcastle upon Tyne
.
or Bronze Age
flint tools, a spearhead, and many burial sites, variously cairns, barrows and cists. A number of Iron Age
settlements are evident, including a promontory fort
east of Shipley moor. Settlements dating to Roman times are found on Beanley moor. It may be surmised that the parish was well populated and involved in extensive farming, from the ability to support multiple communities, a number of which - such as at South Charlton, North Charlton, and possibly in Eglingham village - had early medieval churches. A leper
hospital was established at Harehope. Eglingham village was situated on the historic route from Alnwick to Wooler.
In addition to agriculture, the parish's population was also engaged in mining coal and quarrying limestone and freestone, all of which are described as being available in abundance. A nineteenth-century travellers' guide describes a stream of water which "is turned black as common ink by an infusion of galls". Eglingham colliery closed in November 1897, after becoming unprofitable owing to the costs of removing water from the main coal seams at Black Hill.
In more recent times, in 1972, the village and a considerable amount of surrounding land were declared a Conservation Area.
According to the History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland, its population in 1801, was 1,536; in 1811, 1,538; in 1821, 1,666; in 1831, 1,805; in 1841, 1,832; and in 1851, 2,000.
The parish offered a relatively prosperous living in the form of a vicarage in the diocese of Durham, valued in 1868 at £835. The church of St Maurice is a stone structure, rebuilt after the English Restoration
, having been destroyed, together with neighbouring chapels, by the Scots during the Rebellion, and was enlarged by the addition of a transept in 1836.
Some time between 1217 and 1226, Richard Marsh, the Bishop of Durham, gave the tithes of Eglingham to the Abbey of St Albans
to help the monks make a better ale, "taking compassion on the weakness of the convent's drink", according to an eighteenth-century historian.
, dating to the 16th or 17th century, built originally as the home of the Ogle family
. Village facilities include a village hall, a small primary school, and a pub-restaurant, the highly regarded Tankerville Arms.
and may originally have served as a fortified pele tower
where the villagers could take refuge from marauding bands of cattle thieves, or Border Reivers
. The church bell, cast in the Low Countries
, is one of the only two foreign bells in the Diocese of Newcastle
; the other is at Lambley
.
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, situated about 7 miles (11.3 km) north-west of Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
and 10 miles (16.1 km) from Wooler
Wooler
Wooler is a small town in Northumberland, England. It lies on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, by the Cheviot Hills and so is a popular base for walkers and is referred to as the "Gateway to the Cheviots"...
. It lies in the sheltered valley of the Eglingham Burn, a tributary of the River Aln
River Aln
The River Aln runs through the county of Northumberland in England, discharging into the North Sea on the east coast of England.The river gives its name to the town of Alnwick and to the village of Alnmouth, and its source, Alnham in the Cheviot Hills...
, about 100 metres (328.1 ft) above sea level, in a rural conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
set amongst rolling countryside, within 5 miles (8 km) of the Cheviot Hills
Cheviot Hills
The Cheviot Hills is a range of rolling hills straddling the England–Scotland border between Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.There is a broad split between the northern and the southern Cheviots...
. The village is surrounded by mainly arable
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
farmland, moorland and woodland, including an arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
and some commercial forestry.
The village has about 60 dwellings and a population of about 100, most situated either side of the through-road, and including the local manorial property, Eglingham Hall
Eglingham Hall
Eglingham Hall is a former mansion house and a Grade II* listed building situated at Eglingham, near Alnwick, Northumberland.The manor of Eglingham was acquired by Henry Ogle, a nephew of Robert, 1st Baron Ogle of Ogle in 1514...
.
Eglingham is also a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, about nine miles (14 km) in length by four and a half in breadth, with an area of 23361 acres (94.5 km²). It comprises 2 villages: South Charlton and Eglingham; and 14 settlements - Bassington
Bassington
Bassington is a township in Eglingham parish, Northumberland, England. It is located about northwest of Alnwick. Bassington is traversed by the River Aln.- Governance : Bassington is in the parliamentary constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed....
, Beanley
Beanley
Beanley is a village in Northumberland, in England. It is situated to the north-west of Alnwick, near Eglingham.- Governance :Beanley is in the parliamentary constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed....
, New and Old Bewick, Brandon, Branton, Crawley, Ditchburn, Harehope, Hedgley, East and West Lilburn, Shipley, Titlington - and several smaller places. The River Breamish, which rises in the Cheviot
Cheviot Hills
The Cheviot Hills is a range of rolling hills straddling the England–Scotland border between Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.There is a broad split between the northern and the southern Cheviots...
s, runs through the parish. The geological composition of the parish includes rich gravelly loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
along the path of the river; clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
predominating in the centre of the parish, and unenclosed moorland in the south and east. Within the moor area is Kimmer Loch, covering 10 acres (4 ha), and reputed to abound in perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
and pike
Esox
Esox is a genus of freshwater fish, the only living genus in the family Esocidae — the esocids which were endemic to North America, Europe and Eurasia during the Paleogene through present.The type species is E. lucius, the northern pike...
.
The parish is largely agricultural, although gravel extraction continues to the west. Villages in the parish also serve as bases for commuters working in Alnwick and Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
History
The earliest records of human occupation in the parish are finds of neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
or Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
flint tools, a spearhead, and many burial sites, variously cairns, barrows and cists. A number of Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
settlements are evident, including a promontory fort
Promontory fort
A promontory fort is a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus utilizing the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to date to the Iron Age...
east of Shipley moor. Settlements dating to Roman times are found on Beanley moor. It may be surmised that the parish was well populated and involved in extensive farming, from the ability to support multiple communities, a number of which - such as at South Charlton, North Charlton, and possibly in Eglingham village - had early medieval churches. A leper
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
hospital was established at Harehope. Eglingham village was situated on the historic route from Alnwick to Wooler.
In addition to agriculture, the parish's population was also engaged in mining coal and quarrying limestone and freestone, all of which are described as being available in abundance. A nineteenth-century travellers' guide describes a stream of water which "is turned black as common ink by an infusion of galls". Eglingham colliery closed in November 1897, after becoming unprofitable owing to the costs of removing water from the main coal seams at Black Hill.
In more recent times, in 1972, the village and a considerable amount of surrounding land were declared a Conservation Area.
According to the History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland, its population in 1801, was 1,536; in 1811, 1,538; in 1821, 1,666; in 1831, 1,805; in 1841, 1,832; and in 1851, 2,000.
The parish offered a relatively prosperous living in the form of a vicarage in the diocese of Durham, valued in 1868 at £835. The church of St Maurice is a stone structure, rebuilt after the English Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, having been destroyed, together with neighbouring chapels, by the Scots during the Rebellion, and was enlarged by the addition of a transept in 1836.
Some time between 1217 and 1226, Richard Marsh, the Bishop of Durham, gave the tithes of Eglingham to the Abbey of St Albans
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
to help the monks make a better ale, "taking compassion on the weakness of the convent's drink", according to an eighteenth-century historian.
Landmarks
Eglingham HallEglingham Hall
Eglingham Hall is a former mansion house and a Grade II* listed building situated at Eglingham, near Alnwick, Northumberland.The manor of Eglingham was acquired by Henry Ogle, a nephew of Robert, 1st Baron Ogle of Ogle in 1514...
, dating to the 16th or 17th century, built originally as the home of the Ogle family
Ogle family
The Ogle family was prominent landed gentry in Northumberland from before the time of the Norman Conquest.-Origins:The earliest appearances of the family name was written Hoggel, Oggehill, Ogille and Oghill....
. Village facilities include a village hall, a small primary school, and a pub-restaurant, the highly regarded Tankerville Arms.
Religious sites
The 13th-century parish church is dedicated to St MauriceSaint Maurice
Saint Maurice was the leader of the legendary Roman Theban Legion in the 3rd century, and one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that group. He was the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms...
and may originally have served as a fortified pele tower
Peel tower
Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger...
where the villagers could take refuge from marauding bands of cattle thieves, or Border Reivers
Border Reivers
Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo–Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Their ranks consisted of both Scottish and English families, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims' nationality...
. The church bell, cast in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
, is one of the only two foreign bells in the Diocese of Newcastle
Diocese of Newcastle
The Diocese of Newcastle is a Church of England diocese based in Newcastle upon Tyne, covering the historic county of Northumberland . The area of Alston Moor in Cumbria also forms part of the diocese.The diocese came into being on May 23, 1882, and was one of four created by the Bishoprics Act...
; the other is at Lambley
Lambley, Northumberland
Lambley, formerly Harper Town,is a village in Northumberland, England about southwest of Haltwhistle. The place name Lambley refers to the "pasture of lambs"....
.
Notable people
- Henry Baker TristramHenry Baker TristramThe Reverend Henry Baker Tristram FRS was an English clergyman, Biblical scholar, traveller and ornithologist.Tristram was born at Eglingham vicarage, near Alnwick, Northumberland, and studied at Durham School and Lincoln College, Oxford. In 1846 he was ordained a priest, but he suffered from...
(1822–1906), English clergyman, Biblical scholar, traveller and ornithologistOrnithologyOrnithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
born at Eglingham vicarage - Vera Stanley AlderVera Stanley AlderVera Dorothea Stanley Alder was a portrait painter and mystic. She wrote several books and pamphlets on self-help and spirituality. She founded the World Guardian Fellowship.-Background and family life :...
(1898–1984), portrait painter, born at Eglingham
External links
- Eglingham on the Keys to the Past website
- Eglingham Conservation Area Character Appraisal circa 2005 from Alnwick District Council
- Eglingham colliery, from the Durham Mining Museum
- Eglingham School
- GENUKI
- Eglingham Parish News